Is Account Registration Necessary for a Takeaway?

[mugatea]

I'm building an online shop for a newsagent to handle their breakfast and lunch takeaway orders - pickup only.

The site is almost done, but I’m wondering how important it is to include account registration. Making an account saves your address and details, but with auto-fill options, entering that information at checkout isn’t much slower.

On a previous takeaway site I made, users could register to pay for delivery or pickup using cash, but since this newsagent only offers pickup and the owner prefers card payments, I'm not sure if having accounts is necessary. I don't want to add login fields and complicate the page, making some customers think they need to register to order.

That said, I’ve already made the registration feature, so I’m debating whether to remove it. I’ve also added text before the menu items to let people know guest checkout is available, so they don’t feel forced to register.

Anyone got opinions?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Yes - you are collecting user data, which you can do good things with!

 

[ecommerce84]

Personally, I like how you’ve got it set up - I always like the option to guest checkout or sign up depending on whether I’m likely to be a one off purchaser or a repeat customer.

As well as collecting data as Paul mentions, in the future you may look to implement a loyalty scheme or a repeat order function which would both work best with a sign up.

A group of construction workers or office workers for example may be more inclined to come to you for Friday treat breakfasts if they can just click one button and their order from the previous week is added to the basket - half the battle with that sort of thing is getting everyone’s order. If they can just say “same again everyone?” and order, I feel they will be more likely to order more regularly.

 

[antropy]

the owner prefers card payments, I'm not sure if having accounts is necessary.

What's to stop a prankster or competitor ordering loads of food and not turning up?

Paul.

 

[mugatea]

What's to stop a prankster or competitor ordering loads of food and not turning up?

Paul.

oops soz, didnt get any email notifications of replies...

well they have to register to pay by cash and there is email activation too to complete reg, that obviously that doesn't rule it out completely, but the local indian I did website for also does it and they don't have issues.

Actually its very little used, almost never used, by the indian, its all card payments. This local place may get more as I know workers are coming in with orders for their colleagues so cash more likely but we'll see how it goes, easy enough to edit settings or remove altogether